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2024 Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master's Degree Schools

120 Colleges in the United States
10,469 Master's Degrees
$45,172 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you pursue a master's degree in theological & ministerial studies, you won't be alone. The field of study is the #21 most popular program in the country. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.

In 2024, College Factual analyzed 120 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master's Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 10,469 master's degrees in theological & ministerial studies during the 2020-2021 academic year.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Theological & Ministerial Studies School for Your Master's Degree

Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master's Degree Schools The theology master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:

Overall Quality Is a Must

The overall quality of a master's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To account for this we include a college's overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking which itself looks at a collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Average Early-Career Salaries

Average early-career salary of those graduating with their master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.

Other Factors We Consider

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for theological & ministerial studies students working on their master's degree.

More Ways to Rank Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools

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More Theology Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master's Degree Schools ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Theological & Ministerial Studies in the United States

Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for theological & ministerial studies students seeking a a master's degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

18 Top Schools for a Master's in Theology

1

Fuller Theological Seminary is a good decision for individuals pursuing a master's degree in theological & ministerial studies. Fuller is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena.

Soon after graduation, theology master's recipients typically make around $46,934 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Fuller Theological Seminary

2
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Any student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in theological & ministerial studies has to look into Duke University. Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Durham.

Master's students who receive their degree from the theology program make an average of $40,809 for their early career.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Duke University

3

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a wonderful decision for individuals interested in a master's degree in theological & ministerial studies. Located in the city of Kansas City, MBTS is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Those theological & ministerial studies students who get their master's degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary make $6,954 more than the typical theology student.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

4

Any student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in theological & ministerial studies has to take a look at University of Notre Dame. Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Notre Dame.

After graduating, theology master's recipients usually make around $43,183 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from University of Notre Dame

5
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT

Yale is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of New Haven.

Soon after graduating, theology master's recipients generally make around $41,037 in their early careers.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Yale University

6

Located in the large city of Dallas, DTS Dallas is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Master's recipients from the theological & ministerial studies program at Dallas Theological Seminary earn $6,525 more than the typical college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Dallas Theological Seminary

7
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, GA

Emory is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Atlanta.

Master's graduates who receive their degree from the theology program earn about $41,204 in the first couple years of working.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Emory University

8

UChicago is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Chicago.

After graduating, theology master's recipients usually earn around $38,392 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from University of Chicago

9

Located in the town of Wilmore, Asbury Seminary is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Students who graduate with their master's from the theology program state that they receive average early career wages of $45,625.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Asbury Theological Seminary

10
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Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Located in the midsize city of Cambridge, Harvard is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.

Master's graduates who receive their degree from the theology program make around $30,004 for their early career.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Harvard University

11
63 Annual Graduates

Located in the medium-sized city of Lakeland, SEU is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Southeastern University

12
Concordia Seminary crest
Concordia Seminary
Saint Louis, MO

Located in the large suburb of Saint Louis, Concordia Seminary is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Those theological & ministerial studies students who get their master's degree from Concordia Seminary make $28,483 more than the standard theology student.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Concordia Seminary

13
Luther Seminary crest
Luther Seminary
Saint Paul, MN

Luther Seminary is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Saint Paul.

Master's recipients from the theological & ministerial studies major at Luther Seminary make $19,245 more than the typical graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Luther Seminary

14
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Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.

After graduating, theology master's recipients typically earn about $40,854 in their early careers.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Vanderbilt University

15

Located in the large city of Chicago, Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Theological & Ministerial Studies master's degree recipients from Moody Bible Institute get an earnings boost of approximately $3,664 above the average income of theological & ministerial studies graduates.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Moody Bible Institute

16
Biola crest
Biola University
La Mirada, CA

Biola is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of La Mirada.

After graduating, theology master's recipients usually earn around $40,448 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Biola University

17
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA

Located in the small city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

Master's students who receive their degree from the theology program make an average of $45,050 in the first couple years of working.

More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Boston College

18
26 Annual Graduates

Located in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.More information about a master’s in theological & ministerial studies from Sewanee - The University of the South

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Theological & Ministerial Studies students that almost earned our Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master's Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
19 The Master’s University and Seminary Santa Clarita, CA
20 Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary South Hamilton, MA
21 Liberty University Lynchburg, VA
22 Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX
23 Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL
24 Columbia International University Columbia, SC
25 Bethel University Minnesota Saint Paul, MN

Theological & Ministerial Studies by Region

View the Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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One of 7 majors within the Theology & Religious Vocations area of study, Theological & Ministerial Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.

Theology Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Divinity/Ministry 5,606
Theology 3,814
Other Theological & Ministerial Studies 942
Rabbinical Studies 93
Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies 14

Majors Similar to Theology

Related Major Annual Graduates
Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries 1,191
Biblical Studies 844
Religious Education 570
Theology & Religious Vocations (Other) 512
Missionary Studies 294
Sacred Music 124
Religious Institution Administration and Law 23

Notes and References

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